Principal Development Management Planning Officer

Carrington West; Oxford; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington West is supporting an Oxfordshire local authority to recruit a Principal Planning Officer for the Development Management team on a six-month contract, with rolling terms. The role focuses on assessing major applications and DCOs, with remote working largely expected but site visits required to gather on-site insights.

The post requires RTPI-accredited planning education or equivalent, and immediate availability for interview. Pay rate is £60 per hour (DOE).

Qualifications

• Experience assessing planning applications with a focus on Major Applications and Large Strategic Sites.
• Experience with Development Consent Order (DCO) applications.
• Ability to present recommendations to Planning Committee and liaise with public and professionals.
• Strong knowledge of planning policy, legislation and government guidance.

Responsibilities

• Deal with pre-applications, applications and appeals and present recommendations.
• Visit sites, analyse planning history, conduct consultations and draft reports.
• Advise on planning policy, legislation and related issues to ensure high-quality decisions.
• Attend Planning Committee meetings and provide accurate input to support decisions.
• Prepare appeal statements for Planning Inspectorate and maintain professional standards.

Skills

Town planning

Planning applications

Major applications

DCO applications

Policy guidance

Education

RTPI accredited Planning Degree

Job description

Carrington West are assisting a Oxfordshire based local authority in their search for a Principal Planning Officer to join their Development Management team. This will be offered on an initial 6-month contract, then rolling. We are looking for a qualified Town Planner with current experience of assessing planning applications, with particular experience dealing with Major Applications Large Strategic Sites in both Urban and Rural settings and Development Consent Order applications. The successful candidate will be largely working remotely but you will be expected to undertake site visits

Key Objectives:

• To deal with a range of pre-applications, applications and appeals, in order to regulate and control built development and land use, in the light of Government and local planning policies and other material considerations, including control over the design and layout of the built environment.
• To promote and negotiate high quality design in development.
• To actively contribute and promote the highest professional standards in planning across all Council activities and provide an efficient, fair and high-quality development management service.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• To deal personally with a range of pre-applications, applications and appeals, as allocated by the Team Leader, and to present recommendations to Planning Committee. Ensuring the validity of such proposals, visiting sites, analysing planning history, carrying out consultations, assessment and drafting of recommendations in reports.
• To advise the public and professionals on planning policy, legislation and other issues so as to attain the optimum quality of advice and recommendations on the Council's policies, Government guidance and planning legislation.
• To ensure that planning decisions are made (and seen to be made) with the utmost integrity.
• To provide information and responses to other parts of the Council, Government departments, national organisations with an interest in planning matters, members of the public and outside bodies in relation to planning matters.
• To attend and advise meetings of the Council's Planning Committee and other Committees, informal and formal site visits, internal and external working groups and other meetings, as appropriate, on matters relating to the Development Management service
• To prepare appeal statements to present the Council's case to the Planning Inspectorate to provide the appropriate level of professional input necessary to support the Council's decisions as allocated by the Team Leader.
• To be acquainted with the various Acts relating to the Council's statutory responsibilities with regard to planning matters, including the relevant legislation, orders, circulars and policies. Keeping abreast of changes in such legislation and Government advice and making the necessary changes to practices and procedures arising there from.
• To assist the Development Management Team Leader in maintaining a flexible and resilient team to deliver service objectives and improvements.
• To assist the Development Management Team Leader by contributing effectively to the delivery of team, service, divisional and council priorities, objectives and targets.
• These duties and responsibilities should not be regarded as either exclusive or exhaustive as the postholder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading of the post.

It would be beneficial to hold a RTPI accredited Planning Degree or equivalent Planning qualification and/or have experience in a similar position.

Our client is looking for someone to start almost immediately and is available to interview at short notice.

Carrington West Pay Rate - £60per hour (DOE)

Job Ref - 68687